Picture this: a glossy paint job, just-shined rims, and a crystal-clear windshield. It’s nice, right?
Now imagine the next scene. You get into the car, and the seats are dirty. Not a good look.
It’s important for the inside of your car to look just as good as the outside. If you have cloth car seats, it could be a bit of a challenge. Lucky for you, we have all the steps you need to clean your car’s cloth seats and leave them looking like new.
How Often Should You Clean Cloth Seats?
Life happens—especially when it comes to your car. Messy toddlers, shedding dogs, and spilled food are all common culprits of dirty car seats. No matter what the interior of your car encounters, though, it’s important to keep it clean.
We recommend vacuuming your cloth car seats once a week and spot-treating fresh stains or spills right away. We also recommend a general cleaning of your cloth car seats at least once a month and a deepcleaning twice a year. Keeping your car seats clean is a great way to ensure your car is in its best possible condition. Also, no one likes to ride around in a dirty car.
What You’ll Need To Clean Your Car’s Fabric?
Intimidated by cleaning your car? Don’t be. It’s fairly straightforward, and you probably already have most of the materials handy. Here’s a list of things you’ll need:
- A vacuum with a hose attachment
- An upholstery brush
- A scrub brush
- A spray bottle
- Sponges
- A bucket
- A good towel—like The Absorber®
- Water
- Upholstery cleaner
- Optional: fabric protectant
5 Steps on Cleaning Cloth Seats Yourself
Okay, you’ve got all your materials. Ready to get cleaned? Follow these stepsfor learning how to clean cloth car seats effectively on your own.
Vacuum Your Seats
Vacuuming as the first step is essential. It will help lift crumbs, dust, and other debris off your seats. That way, when it comes to using wet materials, nothing will be pushed further into the fabric of the seats. During this step, you can also use the upholstery brush to help lift any loose fibers from the fabric.
Focus on the Stains
After you vacuum, pre-treat any stains you see before doing your overall cleaning. Work in the upholstery cleaner with your scrub brush anywhere you see a stain. Let it set for 15 minutes. Then, it’s time for the general cleaning. Use the Upholstery Cleaner
Put the upholstery cleaner into a spray bottle and spritz the fabric everywhere. Apply it lightly, starting at the top of the seat and working your way down.
ScrubIt Away
After your seats are damp from the upholstery cleaner solution, scrub your seats with a scrub brush. Again, work from the top down; this ensures that the dirtiness drips down. Rinse your brush in water as often as needed.
Wipe Away Residual Moisture
This is where The Absorber® comes in handy. Run it over your car seats to catch any excess dampness.Dry the Seats
For best results, allow the seats to dry completely before using your car. This could take up to three hours, but it’s well worth it. If your car is still too damp, you can try using a drying agent to soak up extra moisture.
After Step 6, congratulations, you have successfully cleaned your car seats! If you still notice that your seats are heavily soiled, you can repeat the steps until you get the desired results.
3 Tips To Keep Your Car Seats Clean
Cleaning your car is one thing. Preventing future messes is another. Although there is no way to guarantee your car remains spotless, these three tips can help you on cleaning cloth car seats and also your car seats stay clean longer.
- Apply fabric protector. A spray-on fabric protector is a great way to give your cloth car seats a little extra boost from any daily dirt and grime that may build up.
- Keep a towel in your car. In the case of an emergency spill, you’re going to want an absorbent towel. That stash of napkins you keep in your glove compartment is great, but it won’t be enough.
- Avoid eating food in your car. Whether you are road-tripping or spending your lunch break in the comfort of your car, food is a common cause of car seat stains. We’re not saying avoid it all out (that would be tough), but keep food consumption in your car to a minimum. Beware of crumb-prone foods—like chips and sandwiches—and ensure that you drink from a sealed cup.
CleanTools Helps Keeps Your Seat Clean
No matter the type of car you drive, The Absorber® is an essential. It will outlast and outperform any basic towel—making it perfect for cleaning up car spills, wiping your seats, and more.
Keep your car looking great and shop The Absorber® today.
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FAQs
Cleaning cloth car seats is similar to cleaning any other type of seats—Vacuum, scrub away dirt, and wipe away excessive moisture. The main difference, however, is that with cloth seats, you'll want to use an all-around upholstery cleaner to limit the amount of product that seeps into the fabric.
What not to use to clean car seats? ›
Don't use peroxide, bleach, antibacterial products, or other harsh cleaners on the straps. Don't use vinegar, bleach, antibacterial products, or enzymatic cleaners (like OxiClean) on the car-seat cover, since these could impact the fabric's flame retardancy.
Can you use Dawn to clean cloth car seats? ›
Add a couple squirts of highly concentrated liquid dish soap like Dawn to a gallon of water. Or you can do about 1 tablespoon of dish soap to 2 cups of water, for a smaller yield. Submerge your sponge into the liquid, wring it out and scrub the dirty area until the stains are gone.
Is it better to steam or shampoo car seats? ›
Steam cleaning uses vaporized water to clean and is pretty effective at killing bacteria and allergens without chemicals. It's also quick drying, which means you can get back to cruising in your car in no time. On the other hand, shampooing might be the go-to for tougher stains and odors.
Does glass cleaner really clean car seats? ›
According to Reichert, the answer is, probably. Here are a few tips for cleaning cloth car seats. “Glass clear usually has ammonia or alcohol as an ingredient,” she says. “Both will cut through dark fabric stains caused by grease and body oils.” (This dollar store glass cleaner says “with ammonia” right on the can.)
What cleaners are safe for car seats? ›
Bronner's Castile Soap, plant-based and unscented dish soaps, free and clear laundry detergents and unscented baby shampoos or body washes) to remove germs, dirt, stains, bacteria, viruses and impurities from car seats.
What is the best homemade solution for cleaning car upholstery? ›
Choose or Make a Cleaner
Follow the directions on a commercial upholstery cleaner or use a DIY cleaner. To make your own upholstery cleaner, add ½ cup distilled white vinegar, 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid, and 1 cup warm water to a spray bottle. Shake well to mix.
What do valeters use to clean car seats? ›
pH Neutral solution
Dirtbusters Interior Valeting solution is a concentrated, 3-in-1 formula for deep cleaning, deodorising and removing stains from car interior. The pH neutral formula is suitable for car interior carpets, mats and upholstery and can be used in any carpet cleaning machine.
What is the best solution to clean upholstery? ›
For fabric upholstery: Mix 1/4 cup vinegar, 3/4 warm water and 1 tablespoon of dish soap or Castile soap. Put in a spray bottle. Mist the soiled area. Scrub with a soft cloth until the stain lifts.
What is the best way to deep clean the cloth seats in your car? ›
Start by vacuuming the surface of the seat to remove any dirt and debris. Then, scrub lightly with a mixture of warm water and laundry detergent. If needed, mix in some white vinegar or baking soda to help deal with tough odors or mold growth. Rinse with cold water and let dry before using again.
Microfiber towels or cloths. A vacuum cleaner with attachments. Interior-specific cleaning products (e.g., upholstery cleaner, glass cleaner, leather cleaner, plastic cleaner) Soft-bristle brushes or detailing brushes.
What do car detailers use to get stains out of seats? ›
One of the most popular products that we use is Extractor Soap. It's a low foaming, high pH, carpet and upholstery shampoo that will help break down the dirt, grease, and grime that has embedded itself in the seat surface.
How do you clean car upholstery fabric? ›
Follow these steps for learning how to clean cloth car seats effectively on your own.
- Vacuum Your Seats. Vacuuming as the first step is essential. ...
- Focus on the Stains. ...
- Use the Upholstery Cleaner. ...
- Scrub It Away. ...
- Wipe Away Residual Moisture. ...
- Dry the Seats.
Take a teaspoon of washing-up liquid, white vinegar, baking soda and warm water and mix together into a lather (the mixture should froth up as the baking soda and vinegar react with one another). Then, apply directly to any stains or smudges that you can spot on your fabric sofa. Leave to dry out for around 10 minutes.
How do you clean car seats without leaving marks? ›
Baking soda: If you want to know how to clean car seats with baking soda, that is also pretty simple. Take equal parts of baking soda and warm water, dip a small brush, preferably a toothbrush in the mixture and scrub away the dirt on your car seats.
Does glass cleaner clean cloth car seats? ›
Here are a few tips for cleaning cloth car seats. “Glass clear usually has ammonia or alcohol as an ingredient,” she says. “Both will cut through dark fabric stains caused by grease and body oils.” (This dollar store glass cleaner says “with ammonia” right on the can.)
